YLE mentions that a different variant of H3N2 became common after the H3N2 part of this year’s influenza vaccine was chosen. This means that the H3N2 part of the vaccine is likely to be less effective this year, although still better than no vaccine.
In addition, a human case of H5N5 bird flu has been seen.
Here’s a link about the avian flu case:
In another thread, there was a reminder that Tamaflu needs to be taken in first few days of illness. What are the best clues for knowing that an illness is the flu?
There are now rapid antigen tests available in the US that test for influenza A, influenza B, and COVID-19. (In some other countries, there are 6- or 9-pathogen rapid antigen tests available which include additional pathogens like RSV, adenovirus, parainfluenza, etc..)
Having some tests around and using them when getting a feverish illness with respiratory symptoms can help determine what it is (or is not).
No idea if this is actually true but I’ve always been told flu hits like a ton of bricks with no warning unlike say a cold where you feel like you might be getting sick for a day or two until you do. The one time I had flu this was true for me - felt fine, got to work and suddenly felt terrible. Made it through the day but barely and then was in bed for a week. About as sick as I’ve ever been - and I’ve mostly gotten flu shots ever since, even before it was really a thing (I was in my 30’s at the time). Knock wood haven’t had flu since, at least that I know of and if I did it was mild.
That was my exact experience with the flu when I had it many years ago. Not sure if our N = 2 is truly representative.
I second keeping a couple of those lateral flow tests on hand and calling your doctor or going to an urgent care if a test is positive.
I recently had a lonnnng cold, and after almost 2 weeks I went to urgent care. Was treated as a sinus infection. Didn’t seem like prior ones, but the antibiotics (and cough med and abuterol) did the trick. Prior to the appointment, I did a home self test for covid/flu… and that was helpful for the PA being able to rule out those possiblities.
I had the flu once early in my career and it put me in bed for over a week. Like others said I have continued to get a flu shot each year because I never want to feel like that again. I was no where near as sick when I had Covid. The flu was not like a cold for me. I ran a high fever, had terrible body aches and barely ate while I was sick.
So is it fair to summarize that typically if no fever it’s not flu?
Flu commonly but not universally comes with fever, while colds only rarely come with fever.
Flu (Influenza): Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment contains a chart of symptoms of flu, colds, and COVID-19. However, a set of symptoms may be ambiguous (plus there are other things like RSV that can give similar symptoms), so testing may be the only way to find out for sure (but at home tests are limited to flu and COVID-19 in the US).
Thanks. Followup question. Do the flu and covid tests pick up all types? Or just those planned for in vaccines?
The COVID-19 antigen tests are supposed to be sensitive to Omicron variants. The flu rapid antigen tests separately test for A and B varieties of flu.